WARSAW, Poland – Hundreds of coal miners in southern Poland have staged a sit-in while dozens of others started a hunger strike to protest their company's restructuring plan and to demand the chief executive be fired.

Tuesday's actions were undertaken by a section of the nearly 9,000 miners who have been on strike since Jan. 28 when Jastrzebie Coal Company's management announced a plan to improve its finances that meant a longer work week and fewer bonuses.

The striking miners, which represent about a third of the company's 26,000 employees, have demanded the dismissal of chief executive Jaroslaw Zagorowski, saying he is a poor manager.

Negotiations have broken down, which prompted the sit-in and hunger strike. Managers say the stoppage is adding to the company's precarious financial situation.